Method, apparatus and system for controlling access to a cabinet
First Claim
1. A cabinet comprising:
- one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a user access device communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison; and
a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the user access device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, a user access device communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus and a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the user access device. The user access device includes a user interface, a data storage device and a processor. The user interface receives user access data. The data storage device stores the received user access data, other access activity information and the user access data for one or more authorized users. The processor compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.
71 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A cabinet comprising:
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one or more lockable compartments;
at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments;
a user access device communicably coupled to the locking/unlocking apparatus comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison; and
a power supply electrically connected to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus and the user access device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for controlling access to multiple cabinets, comprising
a network; -
a computer communicably coupled to the network; and
two or more cabinets, each cabinet comprising;
one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus for the one or more lockable compartments, and a user access device communicably coupled to the network and the locking/unlocking apparatus, the user access device comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments and at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, comprising:
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one or more user interfaces that receive user access data;
a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users; and
a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.
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21. A method for controlling access to a cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, one or more user interfaces, a data storage device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving user access data from one of the user interfaces;
comparing the received user access data with user access data for one or more authorized users stored in the data storage device;
unlocking at least one of the lockable compartments whenever the received user access data matches the user access data for one of the authorized users; and
storing the received user access data and other access activity information in the data storage device.
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22. A kit for retrofitting a cabinet having one or more compartments to a controlled access cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
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at least one locking/unlocking apparatus suitable for mounting within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments; and
a user access device suitable for mounting on or within the cabinet to control the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus, the user access device comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.
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23. A method for retrofitting a cabinet having one or more compartments to a controlled access cabinet having one or more lockable compartments, comprising:
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installing at least one locking/unlocking apparatus within the cabinet to convert the one or more compartments to one or more lockable compartments; and
installing a user access device on or within the cabinet;
connecting the user access device to the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus such that the user access device controls the operation of the at least one locking/unlocking apparatus; and
the user access device comprising a user interface that receives user access data, a data storage device that stores received user access data, other access activity information and user access data for one or more authorized users, and a processor that compares the received user access data with the user access data for the one or more authorized users and controls the locking/unlocking apparatus based on the comparison.
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Specification